It is always difficult for mid-sized smartphone makers to survive in the long run when fierce competition sets in amid fast-changing consumer needs and technologies -- especially in price-sensitive markets like India.

With a base of 150 million 4G feature phone users, India is currently placed behind China and the US. With an estimated installed base of 340 million 4G devices, India will displace the US as the second-largest market by next year, predicts Counterpoint Research. India currently has over 300 million smartphone users.

The Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology last week said it has asked 21 smartphone makers -- of which majority are Chinese -- to share the security procedures and processes they have undertaken to ensure security of mobile phone devices.

After PSU banks, the government is likely to infuse capital in two chronically ill telecom PSUs BSNL and MTNL, and the Union Cabinet is likely to take a decision on 4G spectrum allocation to them by the third week of the current month after DoT places the note before it for consideration.

At a high-level meeting at the PMO late Tuesday, it was also decided that the two telcos will frame a Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) to reduce their employee strength, which will be followed by a reduction in the retirement age to 58.